Michigan Supreme Court elections, 2022

Michigan 2022 elections

* * *

U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • How to run for office |

|
|

2022 State
Judicial Elections

2023 »

« 2021

Overview
Supreme Courts Overview
Appellate Courts Overview
View judicial elections by state:

Select a state:AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSelect court type:Trial courtsAppellate courtsSupreme courtsReset

The terms of two Michigan Supreme Court justices will expire on January 1, 2023. The two seats are up for nonpartisan election on November 8, 2022.

Although the general election is nonpartisan, political parties in Michigan may nominate candidates for state supreme court elections.[1] Incumbents may also file affidavits of candidacy with the Secretary of State's office. That filing deadline is July 5, 2022.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Judges with expiring terms
* 2 About the Michigan Supreme Court
* 2.1 Political composition
* 3 Selection
* 3.1 Qualifications
* 3.2 Selection of the chief justice
* 4 See also
* 5 External links
* 6 Footnotes

## Judges with expiring terms[edit]

This is a list of the justices who must stand for nonpartisan election in 2022 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.

■ Richard Bernstein
■ Brian Zahra

## About the Michigan Supreme Court[edit]

See also: Michigan Supreme Court

The Michigan Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Michigan. The court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, the state capital. There are seven justices on the court, one being the chief justice. Justices are elected to eight-year terms or appointed by the governor in the case of a vacancy. Most commonly, the court takes appeals from the Michigan Court of Appeals. It is also responsible for the administration and supervision of all lower courts in the state.[3]

### Political composition[edit]

This is the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2022 election.

■ Richard Bernstein |  | Elected in 2014

|
|

■ Megan Cavanagh |  | Elected in 2018
■ Elizabeth Clement |  | Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in 2017; elected in 2018
■ Elizabeth Welch |  | Elected in 2020
■ Bridget Mary McCormack |  | Elected in 2012 and 2020
■ David Viviano |  | Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in 2013; elected in 2014 and 2016
■ Brian Zahra |  | Appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in 2011; elected in 2012 and 2014

## Selection[edit]

See also: Judicial selection in Michigan

The seven justices of the Michigan Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections. They serve eight-year terms and must be re-elected if they wish to continue serving.[4] Incumbent judges seeking re-election may file an affidavit of candidacy requesting to be placed on the ballot, while non-incumbent candidates must either file a nominating petition or obtain a partisan nomination at a party convention. Incumbency is noted on the ballot, though party affiliation is not.[4]

In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a temporary replacement to serve until the next general election. At the governor's request, the state bar's standing committee on judicial qualifications interviews, evaluates, and rates all candidates, submitting a confidential report to the governor.[4]

### Qualifications[edit]

In order to be elected to this court, a judge must:

* be a qualified elector;
* be licensed to practice law in the state;
* have at least five years of law practice experience;
* be under the age of 70.[4]

Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[5]

### Selection of the chief justice[edit]

The chief justice of the court serves a two-year term and is elected by his or her fellow justices.[4]

## See also[edit]

Michigan | Judicial Selection | More Courts

|
|

Courts in Michigan Michigan Court of Appeals Michigan Supreme Court |  Elections: 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Michigan |  Federal courts State courts Local courts

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* Michigan Supreme Court

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Michigan.gov, "Filing for office," accessed August 20, 2021
2. ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "FILING FOR OFFICE," January 2022
3. ↑ Michigan Courts, ""About the Supreme Court,"" accessed October 29, 2014
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
5. ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014

Michigan courts

* * *

Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan

State courts:

Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Probate Courts

State resources:

Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan

v • e

2022 State Judicial Elections

State supreme court elections by state|

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Florida • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maryland • Michigan • Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • North Dakota • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Washington

Intermediate appellate court elections by state|

Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maryland • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Tennessee • Texas • Washington • Wisconsin

v • e

Ballotpedia

About|

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

* * *

Executive: Leslie Graves, President • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy

Communications: Alison Graves • Megan Brown • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Lauren Nemerovski
External Relations: Alison Prange • Sara Key • Kari Berger • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Lauren Dixon • Kelly Rindfleisch
Policy: Christopher Nelson • Caitlin Styrsky • Molly Byrne • Katharine Frey • Jimmy McAllister
Research: Josh Altic, Managing Editor
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Tech Manager • Nathan Bingham • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Margaret Kearney • Joseph Sanchez

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

* * *

Editorial|

Geoff Pallay, Editor-in-Chief • Daniel Anderson, Managing Editor • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor • Cory Eucalitto, Managing Editor • Mandy Gillip, Managing Editor • Jerrick Adams • Victoria Antram • Dave Beaudoin • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Kate Carsella • Kelly Coyle • Megan Feeney • Nicole Fisher • Juan García de Paredes • Sara Horton • Tyler King • Doug Kronaizl • Amee LaTour • David Luchs • Brittony Maag • Roneka Matheny • Andrew McNair • Jackie Mitchell • Elisabeth Moore • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Samantha Post • Paul Rader • Ethan Rice • Myj Saintyl • Maddie Sinclair Johnson • Abbey Smith • Janie Valentine • Caitlin Vanden Boom • Joel Williams • Samuel Wonacott • Mercedes Yanora